Downer said that, after Brexit, Australia wanted to improve its trading relationship with the UK, and that "doomsayer" stories about leaving the EU assumed third countries were "lining up to have a shot at" Britain.

"Well I can speak for just about all of them, other than North Korea...and the truth is we are all looking to maintain or improve the arrangements we have," he said. "You are welcome to have access to our market for your services and we would like to enhance our mutual recognition arrangements we already have with the UK."